Henry ‘Carpetbomb’ Kissinger to speak in Montreal

This week the elite International Economic Forum of the Americas sets up shop in Montreal. The conference, taking place at the Hilton Bonaventure Hotel, will feature a who’s who of the world’s finanancial decision-makers. But the man getting all the attention is former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Most recently in the news for stepping down from the 9/11 Commission rather than reveal the names of the clients of his consultancy firm, Kissinger has an illustrious history of perpetuating war crimes throughout the Cold War. Since he was on the ‘winning’ side, though, he won a Nobel Peace Prize instead.

No need for me to reinvent the wheel, here is what Echec a la Guerre (who is calling for a demonstrating tomorrow to mark Kissinger’s arrival) has to say about the man:

The former Secretary of State to the Nixon and Ford administrations has reinvented himself as a private consultant and will be speaking in Montreal as part of the International Economic Forum of the Americas. The forum itself been denounced by social justice groups in Quebec for its neo-liberal, anti-environmental, pro-military orientation.

Kissinger has been condemned by human rights organizations the world over for the total contempt he showed for human life that characterized his foreign policy decisions. Our action aims to both draw attention to his numerous crimes and denounce the invitation extended to him by the International Economic Forum of the Americas.

A chronology of criminality:
1970: as the US was increasingly humiliated in Vietnam, Kissinger pushed for the expansion of the war into Cambodia, authorizing secret bombing campaign to expand the war region

1971: gave tacit approval to the Pakistani military to commit massacres against the Bangladeshi population in the east of the country, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians dead.

1973: directed US involvement in Operation Condor in Chile, giving orders supporting a coup by General Augusto Pinochet against the democratically elected government of Salvadore Allende that led to the persecution, disappearance, torture and murder of thousands.

1975: approved and supported the invasion of East Timor by General Suharto of Indonesia, which led to an estimated 200,000 deaths.

Because he is wanted for questioning by judges in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, France and Spain, Kissinger has a hard time traveling and speaking in public.

Canada should not be an exception.

Henry Kissinger should not be given a red carpet welcome in Montreal and a seat at a prestigious conference. He should be tried in front of an international tribunal for war crimes.

The Collectif Echec à la guerre is organizing a picket during Kissinger’s speech. Join us in asking for justice for this man’s crimes around the world.

The details on the demo:

NO RED CARPET FOR WAR CRIMINALS!
Wednesday June 11th, from 12 to 1 pm
Hilton Bonaventure Hotel,
900 de la Gauchetière west
(corner Mansfield)

I’ll need to be at work, but I’m sure you’ll all give H.K. a warm Montreal welcome.